The villain of Viejas Arena: House leads Lobos past No. 23 San Diego State

New Mexico’s Jaelen House (10) shoots against San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) and guard Darrion Trammell (12) during the first half. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

New Mexico guard Donovan Dent (2) shoots against San Diego State forward Nathan Mensah (31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

San Diego State guard Lamont Butler (5) shoots over New Mexico forward Morris Udeze (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

San Diego State guard Darrion Trammell (12) shoots past New Mexico forward Morris Udeze (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson dunks during the first half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

New Mexico forward Josiah Allick (53) and forward Morris Udeze (24) celebrate after New Mexico defeated San Diego State in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

New Mexico forward Morris Udeze (24) celebrates during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

New Mexico guard Jamal Mashburn Jr. (5) drives past San Diego State forward Jaedon LeDee (13) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

New Mexico guard Javonte Johnson drives past San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

San Diego State guard Lamont Butler (5) tries to keep the ball in front of New Mexico guard Jaelen House (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

New Mexico coach Richard Pitino gestures from the sideline during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against San Diego State Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher, right, and players react after a foul call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — An announced sellout crowd of 12,414 — minus a few hundred who showed up in Lobo gear — directed their merciless boos, taunts and pure venom against one person on the Steve Fisher court.

Jaelen House, UNM’s point guard wearing a black cowboy hat and eating up every moment, dropped 29 points — 21 in the second half and 10 of 12 in a decisive second-half run that sent the Lobos reeling number 23 of San. Diego State, 76-67, Saturday night at Viejas Arena.

“It should be,” House said. “I don’t like them and they don’t like me. … I don’t know what it is. I just love the big moments.”

The Lobos improved to 16-2 on the season and 3-2 in Mountain West play, handing the Aztecs (13-4, 4-1 MWC) their first league loss of the season.

A year after the Lobos lost in the same building by 25 points in a game the Aztecs physically faced UNM’s depleted roster, House wasn’t the only one hoping to prove a point Saturday against the perennial league favorite Aztecs.

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House’s 29-point, six-rebound, four-steal performance was accompanied by Jamal Mashburn Jr.’s 22 points. and a 10-point, 15-rebound game from transfer forward Morris Udeze.

The Lobos jumped out to an 11-point halftime lead and led 38-28 at the break. But the energy in the arena, and from the veteran Aztecs, wouldn’t let the visitors get away with it.

SDSU closed the gap quickly in the second half. A pair of Micah Parrish free throws with 9:23 left in the game put SDSU up 49-48 — their first lead since 2-0.

But while the arena was buzzing for the SDSU run (21-10 at the half at that point), it was about a minute later when the drama really began to unfold.

Former MWC Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Mensah was called for his fourth foul in the lane on Morris Udeze with 8:20 remaining. He immediately reacted by throwing himself into referee Gerry Pollard in frustration, earning a technical and foul out.

House hit two free throws for Tech, regaining the lead for UNM 50-49. The Lobos then inbounded, leading to a House 3-pointer and a five-point UNM possession for a 53-49 lead.

A Mashburn bucket then five more House points later and UNM’s 12-0 run and 60-49 lead had House in his element, fueling the buzz and frustrating the Aztecs.

“Frustration is a big part of everything we do in sports,” SDSU coach Brian Dutcher said after the game. “And we’re frustrated that we didn’t get a win today.”

Pitino said of his polarizing point, “I told our staff, it’s like he’s like a wrestler in the WWE. He is enjoying this. But it spurs him on. He just has to get to that line and stop.”

However, he did not do this.

After another 3-pointer by Chamber to make it 63-50 UNM with 5:13 left, he was then called for a technical for too much chatter — something the refs had warned him about.

That, like the one he gave SDSU just three minutes earlier, led to a five-point possession for SDSU — two technical free throws by Adam Seiko and then a Seiko 3, cutting UNM’s lead to 63 -55.

But the momentum was now back in the hands of the Lobos, and the lead was never closer than four down the stretch.

UNM had a season-low five assists.

BOX SCORE: New Mexico 76, San Diego State 67

Un Ms Dsu 190536 by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

Emptying the Notebook: For more notes, stats and analysis from Saturday’s game, read the Emptying the Notebook column.

Emptying the Notebook: UNM and Mashburn’s House Show is on a Mission Here are some new notes, quotes, stats and other bits I’ve emptied from…

UP NEXT: San Jose State at UNM, 7 p.m. Tuesday FS1, 770 AM/96.3 FM

VIDEO: Postgame interviews with Richard Pitino, Jaelen House and Jamal Mashburn Jr.…